FiDi: So Many Obstacles, Yet so Many Bikers

By Evelyn Levine

A neighborhood with so many narrow roads, abruptly ending streets, and street parking galore, who would ride a bike? The downtown financial district of Manhattan it appears to be a cyclist’s nightmare with ubiquitous dangers, yet some New Yorkers appear to be fearless. The Citibike rental dock outside my window is constantly empty, and cycling infrastructure is quietly being implemented. Just last week there were bike lanes painted, and indoor private docking stations are appearing. 

The neighborhood, with all its dangers, is actually a biker’s haven. There is the underside of the East Side FDR, the West Side Highway path, and the two bridges that allow for easy access to Brooklyn. But who are these people biking? I have yet to see more than a handful of people using a helmet, and most people are biking in traffic and not using these aforementioned divided routes, but are weaving in-and-out of traffic. Are New Yorkers just a fearless breed?